Taurine

CAS NO. : 107-35-7
Molecular Formula: C2H7NO3S Molecular Weight: 125.14
Molecular Structure :
Properties: Taurine, or 2-aminoethanesulfonic acid, is an organic acid. It is also a major constituent of bile and can be found in the lower intestine and in small amounts in the tissues of many animals and in humans as well. [1][2] Taurine is a derivative of the sulfur-containing (sulfhydryl) amino acid, cysteine. Taurine is one of the few known naturally occurring sulfonic acids. Taurine, chemical name 2-aminoethansulphoric acid is a naturally occurring beta-amino acid in mammals. It is the building block of a key component of bile acid and highly concentrated in central nervous system, skeletal muscle, heart muscle and eyes, especially in the brain and heart muscle. In mammals it acts as conjugator of bile acid, benefits eye health and vision, and plays detoxification, osmoregulation and membrane stabilization, and thus to ensure the normal reproduction, growth and maintenance.

Used :
Taurine and bird development
Recent research has provided evidence that taurine is essential in early bird development of passerines. Many passerines, regardless of spider availability, seek out many taurine-rich spiders to feed their young particularly in their youngest stages of life. Researchers later compared the behaviors and development of birds fed a taurine-supplemented diet to a control diet and found that juveniles that were fed taurine-rich diets as neonates were much larger risk takers and more adept at spatial learning tasks.
Synthesis and production
In 1993, approximately 5,0006,000 t. of taurine was produced; 50% for pet food manufacture, 50% in pharmaceutical applications. Synthetic taurine is obtained from isethionic acid (2-hydroxyethanesulfonic acid) , which in turn is obtained from the reaction of ethylene oxide with aqueous sodium bisulfite. Another approach is the reaction of aziridine with sulfurous acid. This leads directly to taurine.
As a functional food
Taurine is used as a functional food in many energy drinks and energy products Despite being present in many energy foods, it has not been proven to be energy-giving. A study of mice hereditarily unable to transport taurine suggests that it is needed for proper maintenance and functioning of skeletal muscles. [58] Additionally, it has been proven effective in removing fatty liver deposits in humans, preventing liver disease, and reducing cirrhosis in rats.